Speights Ale House and The Landing Service Conference Centre, housed in the historic 133 year old landing service building in the heart of Timaru – the perfect choice for a drink, leisurely meal and every occasion.

The Landing Service Conference Centre and Dlish catering is situated in the historic Landing Service Building in the heart of Timaru’s central business district. We can provide the perfect venue for up to 200 guests. We also provide offsite catering from Oamaru to Ashburton and inland to Aoraki Mt Cook. Our mobile kitchen can come to almost any location you choose

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We reckon Speight's award winning line up of traditional ales and beers would hold its own against all comers. We hope you'll be as proud of them as we are...

Menus

Speight's Gold Medal Ale
The legend begins here. In 1880 Speight’s enters it’s flagship ale into the Melbourne Exhibition. It cleans up, winning 2 gold medals and gets a new name; Gold Medal Ale is born.
Tasting notes: Speight’s is the beer of choice after a hard day’s work. Probably the least sweet of all New Zealand beers, this characteristic allows the full flavour of the malt and hops to shine through. Speight’s Gold Medal Ale is a great accompaniment to any meat dish and is superb with Southern game dishes such as venison, duck and rabbit.

Tasting Notes: It's full of roasted malty sweetness with hints of caramel and butterscotch and finished with a slight hop bite that sets it apart from other beers.

Speight's Golden Pale Ale
A bright, clear beer that tastes as good as it looks.

Tasting notes: A sensational ale where our brewers have achieved the perfect balance between bitterness and sweetness. Caramelized malted barley gives this Golden Pale Ale it's burnt toffee sweetness. This is balanced with New Zealand hops to give it a slight bitter edge and a zesty aromatic character. This is a terrific beer for sharing with good friends around a crackling fire or a sizzling barbecue.

Speight's Triple Hop Pilsner
The balanced blend of aromatic hops gives this classic pilsner its full flavour with a clean finish. The thirst quencher to share with mates.

Tasting Notes: A real pilsner true to its traditions, Triple Hop Pilsner uses three distinct hops; one for bitterness at the beginning and two for aroma added later in the brew. The moment you spark up the barbecue is the moment to take the top off a Triple Hop Pilsner, perfect beer match with anything from the sea; snapper or cod you choose.

Speight's 5 Malt Old Dark
If you’re looking for a beer with a big creamy flavour you’ve come to the right place.

Tasting notes: 5 malt old dark was introduced into the Speight's range in 1992 to meet consumer demands for the classic 'dark' beer. No prizes for guessing why it got its name. By carefully selecting, roasting and matching 5 separate malts we have crafted a dark beer that gives rich, creamy, chocolate fudge flavours swiftly followed by coffee overtones. Perfect for warming the cockles on a stormy night.

Speight's Summer Haze
This drop encompasses all the tradition of a Belgian wheat beer, but with a twist. To match the seasonality the brewers have added the stone fruit of apricot to really add to the flavour profile. This brew is exclusive to Alehouses so be quick as this one is sure to run out.

Tasting Notes: A mainly cloudy look with the taste of apricots to heighten the sense. You can't helped but be reminded of a great kiwi summer when you take a sip of this wheat beer.

Speight's Porter
One of the legendary Speight's brews that is famous in alehouses the length and breadth of New Zealand. Our recipe dates from 1929 and nothing much has changed since then. A deep coffee and chocolate flavour makes this porter one to savor.

Tasting Notes: A blend of crystal, caramalt, roasted wheat and chocolate malt combine to give this porter is complex, smoky and rich coffee aroma. And yes that is a subtle chocolate you are tasting too. Speight's Porter is a great accompaniment to any chocolate desert and is superb with blue cheese or oysters.

Situated in the historic Landing Service Building in the heart of Timaru’s central business district, we can provide the perfect venue for your wedding, conference, training seminar, product launch, workshop, board meeting, birthday or if you just want to throw a party.

Let us take the hassle out of your day with our professional event planner. We will help plan your function and ensure you can relax and enjoy the event on the day with your guests.

Facilities

Fully-catered

Up to 200 guests

wheelchair access

ample car parking

allocated coach parking

modern sound and

data projection equipment

wedding planner and wedding manager available.

Two adjoining function rooms

Our five function rooms can accommodate up to 200 guests for weddings and conferences, and can be set up in a variety of configurations to suit your needs. Our wide menu selection and on-site catering ensures meals and refreshments are ready when you need them.

Weddings

We know and understand how important your wedding day is, and we're here to help manage all aspects of your wedding preparations to ensure you have a perfect day.

Built in the 1870s, the Landing Service Building is just the place to bring a touch of old to your wedding day. Two main function rooms provide a range of options for dining and entertainment. Our venue is a fully-catered function centre which allows you a hassle free day. Our friendly team are able to assist you with the planning of this very special day.

The Speight's Ale House next door allows your guests the opportunity to have a drink and nibbles in the sun in the extensive courtyard while you're having photos taken.

Catering - With our on-site catering service we can provide a set menu, buffet, banquet, canapés or supper.

Ceremony - We are able to provide a room for your wedding ceremony as well as a room for your reception.

Beverages - We have a fully-licensed bar and, if you wish, we can provide a beverage package to suit your budget.

Conferences/Seminars

The Landing Service Conference Centre is the perfect place for your next conference or seminar. Conveniently located in the historic Landing Service Building in the heart of Timaru's Central Business District, with ample car and coach parking nearby. All conference facilities are located on the first floor of the Landing Service Building, with good wheelchair access from Turnbull Street.

Banquet/Cafe

Threatre

Classroom

Boardroom

Cocktail

Rates 1/2 Day

Rate Full Day

Talbot Room

140

200

100

50

200

$150

$230

Summit Room

120

180

80

50

180

$150

$230

Boardroom

30

24

$100

$150

Elginshire Room

12

12

$50

$100

Lounge Bar

50

30

50

$100

$150

The latest audio-visual equipment is available including a sound system with wireless microphones, data projection equipment and high-speed internet access. Facsimile, photocopying and full secretarial services can be arranged at your request

Catering is a speciality at The Landing Service Conference Centre. Our on-site kitchen and professional chefs mean we can provide the food you want, just when you want it. Our functions manager will be happy to discuss your catering requirements.

Our Functions Coordinator is available to help with planning and managing your function.

Birthdays/Parties/Celebrations

Birthdays, anniversaries, engagement, achievements and acknowledgments are events which all call for celebration. The Landing Service Conference Centre has the experience to help you plan these fun times down to the finest detail.

A celebration or private party at The Landing Service Conference Centre comes with exceptional food and wine, attentive and professional staff and a stunning setting for sharing in a celebration with family and friends.

At The Landing Service Conference Centre we don't just host and run events, we make memories

Allow your guests the opportunity to have a drink and nibbles in the sun in the extensive courtyard at The Speight's Ale House, located next door.

The Speight’s Ale House and The Function Centre are housed in the historic 133 year old Landing Service Building in the heart if Timaru.

Speight's has a long history, like the Timaru’s Speight's Ale House building.

Timaru's Landing Services Building

The Speight’s Ale House is in Timaru’s Landing Service building, built in the period between 1870 and 1876. It is the last remaining instance of the three Landing Service buildings, and the only one known to still stand in the Southern Hemisphere.

In December 1868 the commercial heart of Timaru suffered a major blow when a fire that started in a furniture factory on a hot north-westerly day engulfed 39 buildings the centre of the town, the majority of which were constructed of wood.

As a result of this devastation the Borough Council adopted new regulations requiring all buildings in the business district to be constructed if brick or stone with tile or slate roof’s, and before long the area had been rebuilt. Because of these regulations the Landing Service building was built of solidified lava (basalt or “bluestone”).

The Speight's Founders

In 1876 James Speight, Charles Greenslade and William Dawson set up Speight's Brewery in Dunedin. Situated on the same site today in Rattray St, Dunedin, Speight's is the Pride of the South.

In 1876, in the bustling southern city of Dunedin, James Speight's brewing dream became a reality. With a couple of mates, Charles Greenslade and William Dawson, he purchased an evacuated bottling and malt plant, where all three had worked, and set up his own brewery.

The three men made a great team and they wasted no time in getting down to business - in fact, they put through their first brew on April 4th, a month before they received the lease on May 1st and two months before they had even obtained a license on June 6th!

By 1887, the combination of clever business sense and great beer had seen Speight's grow to become the largest brewery in New Zealand. But sadly, with his dream at last a reality James Speight died in August of that year.